UNESCO and the L’Oréal Foundation are preparing to honour five exceptional female scientists with the 2018 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards at a ceremony on 22 March at UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris.

The ceremony will follow a major scientific conference, organized by the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO on 21 March. These events will recognize leading women scientists and shine a spotlight on 15 talented young female scientists. They will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the For Women in Science programme.

This year, UNESCO and the L’Oréal Foundation have recognized five exceptional female scientists.

Each of the five laureates will receive a prize of €100,000 and be honored for her contribution in the fields of medicine, palaeontology, molecular biology, ecology and developmental biology.

Over the last 20 years, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has raised the profile of 102 laureates and supported more than 3,000 young female scientists, helping them benefit from increased recognition within the scientific community. Three of these laureates have received science Nobel Prizes.

In order to further promote these women in science, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme is raising public awareness of their achievements. It has launched an international communications campaign in seven international airports (Paris, New York, Beijing, London, Dubai, Sao Paulo and Johannesburg) and on the streets of Paris, in partnership with JCDecaux and Aéroports de Paris.

THE 2018 L’OREAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL RISING TALENTS

Over the last 20 years, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO have supported 3,022 talented young female scientists through research fellowships. These L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowships are awarded annually at national and regional ceremonies in 117 countries.

National and regional fellowships are awarded to 275 young women scientists each year. Out of these 275, the International Rising Talents programme targets the most promising 15 of these scientists.